Form 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended MARCH 31, 2009

OR

 

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 1-12252

 

 

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   13-3675988

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois   60606
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(312) 474-1300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, outstanding on March 31, 2009 was 273,843,970.

 

 

 


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands except for share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

         March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008

ASSETS

       

Investment in real estate

       

Land

       $     3,675,048        $     3,671,299  

Depreciable property

       14,002,717        13,908,594  

Projects under development

       762,641        855,473  

Land held for development

       258,923        254,873  
               

Investment in real estate

       18,699,329        18,690,239  

Accumulated depreciation

       (3,674,402)       (3,561,300) 
               

Investment in real estate, net

       15,024,927        15,128,939  

Cash and cash equivalents

       428,596        890,794  

Investments in unconsolidated entities

       8,196        5,795  

Deposits – restricted

       187,176        152,372  

Escrow deposits – mortgage

       19,483        19,729  

Deferred financing costs, net

       55,905        53,817  

Other assets

       311,373        283,664  
               

Total assets

     $ 16,035,656      $ 16,535,110  
               

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

       

Liabilities:

       

Mortgage notes payable

     $ 4,941,277      $ 5,036,930  

Notes, net

       5,141,358        5,447,012  

Lines of credit

       -          -    

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

       128,008        108,463  

Accrued interest payable

       75,268        113,846  

Other liabilities

       243,541        289,562  

Security deposits

       63,484        64,355  

Distributions payable

       142,209        141,843  
               

Total liabilities

       10,735,145        11,202,011  
               

Commitments and contingencies

       

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership

       153,617        264,394  
               

Equity:

       

Shareholders’ equity:

       

Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 1,950,925 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2009 and 1,951,475 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2008

       208,773        208,786  

Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 273,843,970 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2009 and 272,786,760 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2008

       2,738        2,728  

Paid in capital

       4,399,559        4,273,489  

Retained earnings

       401,262        456,152  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

       (29,289)       (35,799) 
               

Total shareholders’ equity

       4,983,043        4,905,356  

Noncontrolling Interests:

       

Operating Partnership

       138,165        137,645  

Preference Interests and Units

       184        184  

Partially Owned Properties

       25,502        25,520  
               

Total Noncontrolling Interests

       163,851        163,349  
               

Total equity

       5,146,894        5,068,705  
               

Total liabilities and equity

     $ 16,035,656      $ 16,535,110  
               

See accompanying notes

 

2


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

         Quarter Ended March 31,
         2009    2008

REVENUES

       

Rental income

       $ 512,281        $ 500,347  

Fee and asset management

       2,863        2,294  
               

Total revenues

       515,144        502,641  
               

EXPENSES

       

Property and maintenance

       133,543        132,837  

Real estate taxes and insurance

       55,964        53,327  

Property management

       19,014        21,176  

Fee and asset management

       2,003        2,180  

Depreciation

       150,045        141,195  

General and administrative

       10,394        12,417  
               

Total expenses

       370,963        363,132  
               

Operating income

       144,181        139,509  

Interest and other income

       6,021        3,369  

Other expenses

       (292)       (176) 

Interest:

       

Expense incurred, net

       (123,897)       (119,518) 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

       (2,965)       (2,160) 
               

Income before income and other taxes, (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations

       23,048        21,024  

Income and other tax (expense) benefit

       (2,131)       (2,995) 

(Loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities

       (195)       (95) 

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities

       2,765        -    
               

Income from continuing operations

       23,487        17,934  

Discontinued operations, net

       61,934        129,594  
               

Net income

       85,421        147,528  

Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:

       

Operating Partnership

       (4,691)       (9,133) 

Preference Interests and Units

       (4)       (4) 

Partially Owned Properties

       69        (268) 
               

Net income attributable to controlling interests

       80,795        138,123  

Preferred distributions

       (3,620)       (3,633) 
               

Net income available to Common Shares

       $ 77,175        $ 134,490  
               

Earnings per share – basic:

       

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares

       $ 0.07        $ 0.05  
               

Net income available to Common Shares

       $ 0.28        $ 0.50  
               

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding

       272,324        268,784  
               

Earnings per share – diluted:

       

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares

       $ 0.07        $ 0.05  
               

Net income available to Common Shares

       $ 0.28        $ 0.50  
               

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding

       288,853        289,317  
               

Distributions declared per Common Share outstanding

       $ 0.4825        $ 0.4825  
               

See accompanying notes

 

3


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

         Quarter Ended March 31,
         2009    2008

Comprehensive income:

       

Net income

       $     85,421      $   147,528  

Other comprehensive income (loss) – derivative instruments:

       

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period

       2,660        (9,148) 

Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income

       1,493        513  

Other

       449        -    

Other comprehensive income (loss) – other instruments:

       

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period

       1,908        (396) 
               

Comprehensive income

       91,931        138,497  

Comprehensive (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

       (4,626)       (9,405) 
               

Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests

       $ 87,305        $ 129,092  
               

See accompanying notes

 

4


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

     

Net income

     $       85,421        $       147,528  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation

     150,488        147,580  

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     2,997        2,161  

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt

     1,706        1,350  

Amortization of discounts on corporate notes

     (1,096)       -  

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments

     1,148        168  

Write-off of pursuit costs

     192        175  

Transaction costs

     100        1  

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities

     195        95  

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital

     59        23  

Net (gain) on sales of unconsolidated entities

     (2,765)       -  

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations

     (61,871)       (122,517) 

(Gain) on debt extinguishments

     (1,985)       -  

Compensation paid with Company Common Shares

     4,920        5,995  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

     

Decrease (increase) in deposits – restricted

     1,039        (656) 

Decrease in other assets

     6,763        12,268  

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

     19,026        40,778  

(Decrease) in accrued interest payable

     (38,578)       (46,020) 

(Decrease) in other liabilities

     (24,437)       (23,480) 

(Decrease) increase in security deposits

     (871)       1,027  
             

Net cash provided by operating activities

     142,451        166,476  
             

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

     

Investment in real estate – acquisitions

     -        (41,907) 

Investment in real estate – development/other

     (82,171)       (125,875) 

Improvements to real estate

     (26,644)       (40,744) 

Additions to non-real estate property

     (712)       (1,026) 

Interest capitalized for real estate under development

     (10,617)       (14,714) 

Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net

     133,154        284,289  

Proceeds from disposition of unconsolidated entities

     -        2,629  

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital

     110        -  

Investment in corporate notes/other

     (52,822)       -  

Proceeds from sale of corporate notes/other

     15,000        -  

Transaction costs

     (100)       (1) 

(Increase) decrease in deposits on real estate acquisitions, net

     (43,020)       32,145  

Decrease in mortgage deposits

     246        262  

Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     (2,823)       (20) 
             

Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities

     (70,399)       95,038  
             

See accompanying notes

 

5


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

     

Loan and bond acquisition costs

     $ (6,096)       $ (3,686) 

Mortgage notes payable:

     

Proceeds

     57,713        563,101  

Restricted cash

     7,177        5,574  

Lump sum payoffs

     (141,132)       (68,318) 

Scheduled principal repayments

     (5,111)       (6,213) 

Prepayment premiums/fees

     (35)       -  

Notes, net:

     

Lump sum payoffs

     (307,820)       -  

Gain on debt extinguishments

     2,020        -  

Lines of credit:

     

Proceeds

     -        841,000  

Repayments

     -        (980,000) 

Proceeds from (payments on) settlement of derivative instruments

     449        (13,256) 

Proceeds from sale of Common Shares

     2,787        2,718  

Proceeds from exercise of options

     105        3,034  

Common Shares repurchased and retired

     (1,124)       (10,935) 

Payment of offering costs

     (121)       (8) 

Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     522        323  

Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership

     78        -  

Distributions:

     

Common Shares

     (131,567)       (130,113) 

Preferred Shares

     (3,620)       (3,635) 

Preference Interests and Units

     (4)       (4) 

Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership

     (8,000)       (8,888) 

Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     (471)       (390) 
             

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

     (534,250)       190,304  
             

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (462,198)       451,818  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     890,794        50,831  
             

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     $       428,596        $       502,649  
             

See accompanying notes

 

6


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

     

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

     $       159,656        $ 164,289  
             

Net cash paid (received) for income and other taxes

     $ 564        $ (526) 
             

Real estate acquisitions/dispositions/other:

     

Mortgage loans (assumed) by purchaser

     $ (4,387)       $ -  
             

Amortization of deferred financing costs:

     

Investment in real estate, net

     $ (1,011)       $ (471) 
             

Deferred financing costs, net

     $ 4,008        $ 2,632  
             

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt:

     

Investment in real estate, net

     $ (4)       $ -  
             

Mortgage notes payable

     $ (1,550)       $ (1,574) 
             

Notes, net

     $ 3,260        $ 2,924  
             

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments:

     

Other liabilities

     $ (345)       $ (345) 
             

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     $ 1,493        $ 513  
             

Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments:

     

Other assets

     $ (379)       $ (4,935) 
             

Mortgage notes payable

     $ (1,186)       $ 3,390  
             

Notes, net

     $ (645)       $ 2,907  
             

Other liabilities

     $ (450)       $ 7,786  
             

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     $ 2,660        $ (9,148) 
             

Proceeds from (payments on) settlement of derivative instruments:

     

Other assets

     $ 449        $ (39) 
             

Other liabilities

     $ -        $       (13,217) 
             

See accompanying notes

 

7


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   Quarter Ended
March 31, 2009

PREFERRED SHARES

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 208,786  

Conversion of 7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible

     (13) 
      

Balance, end of period

     $ 208,773  
      

COMMON SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 2,728  

Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares

     5  

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

     2  

Share-based employee compensation expense:

  

Restricted/performance shares

     3  
      

Balance, end of period

     $ 2,738  
      

PAID IN CAPITAL

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $         4,273,489  

Common Share Issuance:

  

Conversion of Preferred Shares into Common Shares

     13  

Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares

     9,138  

Exercise of share options

     105  

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

     2,785  

Share-based employee compensation expense:

  

Performance shares

     26  

Restricted shares/LTIP Units

     3,382  

Share options

     1,580  

ESPP discount

     492  

Common Shares repurchased and retired

     (1,124) 

Offering costs

     (121) 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)

     13,006  

Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     (1,227) 

Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership

     100,794  

Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership

     (2,779) 
      

Balance, end of period

     $ 4,399,559  
      

RETAINED EARNINGS

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 456,152  

Net income attributable to controlling interests

     80,795  

Common Share distributions

     (132,065) 

Preferred Share distributions

     (3,620) 
      

Balance, end of period

     $ 401,262  
      

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ (35,799) 

Accumulated other comprehensive income – derivative instruments:

  

Unrealized holding gains arising during the period

     2,660  

Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income

     1,493  

Other

     449  

Accumulated other comprehensive income – other instruments:

  

Unrealized holding gains arising during the period

     1,908  
      

Balance, end of period

     $ (29,289) 
      

See accompanying notes

 

8


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

   Quarter Ended
March 31, 2009

OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 137,645  

Issuance of LTIP Units to Noncontrolling Interests

     78  

Conversion of OP Units held by Noncontrolling Interests into
OP Units held by General Partner

     (9,143) 

Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

     4,691  

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests

     (7,868) 

Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership

     9,983  

Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership

     2,779  
      

Balance, end of period

     $ 138,165  
      

PREFERENCE INTERESTS AND UNITS

  

Balance, beginning of year and end of period

     $ 184  
      

PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES

  

Balance, beginning of year

     $ 25,520  

Net (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

     (69) 

Contributions by Noncontrolling Interests

     522  

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests

     (471) 
      

Balance, end of period

     $           25,502  
      

See accompanying notes

 

9


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Business

Equity Residential (“EQR”), a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993, is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top United States growth markets. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT.

EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2009 owned an approximate 94.4% ownership interest in, ERP Operating Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) under which all property ownership and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. References to the “Company” include EQR, the Operating Partnership and those entities owned or controlled by the Operating Partnership and/or EQR.

As of March 31, 2009, the Company, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 537 properties in 23 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 146,232 units. The ownership breakdown includes (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):

 

        Properties           Units    

Wholly Owned Properties

  469     126,563  

Partially Owned Properties:

   

Consolidated

  26     5,406  

Unconsolidated

  40     9,560  

Military Housing (Fee Managed)

  2     4,703  
       
  537     146,232  

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009.

In preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2008 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

For further information, including definitions of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Income and Other Taxes

Due to the structure of the Company as a REIT and the nature of the operations of its operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the EQR level. Historically, the Company has generally only

 

10


incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The Company has elected Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries, primarily those entities engaged in condominium conversion and corporate housing activities and as a result, these entities will incur both federal and state income taxes on any taxable income of such entities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. These assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates for which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized in earnings in the period enacted. The Company’s deferred tax assets are generally the result of tax affected amortization of goodwill, differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and the timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of March 31, 2009, the Company has recorded a deferred tax asset of approximately $38.5 million, which was fully offset by a valuation allowance due to the uncertainty in forecasting future TRS taxable income.

Other

In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 140-4 and FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) 46(R)-8, Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities (“FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8”). FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 amends SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, to require public companies to provide additional disclosures about transfers of financial assets. It also amends FIN No. 46(R) to require public enterprises, including sponsors that have a variable interest in a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”), to provide additional disclosures about their involvement with VIEs. FIN No. 46 requires the Company to consolidate the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the activities of its VIEs, which for the Company includes only its development partnerships since the Company provides substantially all of the capital for these ventures (other than third party mortgage debt, if any). The Company does not have any unconsolidated FIN No. 46 assets. FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 were effective for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 and affected disclosures only. The adoption of this standard has no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

The Company adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 150 and FSP No. FAS 150-3, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity, effective December 31, 2003. SFAS No. 150 and FSP No. FAS 150-3 require the Company to make certain disclosures regarding noncontrolling interests that are classified as equity in the financial statements of a subsidiary but would be classified as a liability in the parent’s financial statements under SFAS No. 150 (e.g., noncontrolling interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries). The Company is presently the controlling partner in various consolidated partnerships consisting of 26 properties and 5,406 units and various uncompleted development properties having a noncontrolling interest book value of $25.5 million at March 31, 2009. Some of these partnerships contain provisions that require the partnerships to be liquidated through the sale of its assets upon reaching a date specified in each respective partnership agreement. The Company, as controlling partner, has an obligation to cause the property owning partnerships to distribute proceeds of liquidation to the Noncontrolling Interests (see definition below) in these Partially Owned Properties only to the extent that the net proceeds received by the partnerships from the sale of its assets warrant a distribution based on the partnership agreements. As of March 31, 2009, the Company estimates the value of Noncontrolling Interest distributions would have been approximately $62.6 million (“Settlement Value”) had the partnerships been liquidated. This Settlement Value is based on estimated third party consideration realized by the partnerships upon disposition of the Partially Owned Properties and is net of all other assets and liabilities, including yield maintenance on the mortgages encumbering the properties, that would have been due on March 31, 2009 had those mortgages been prepaid. Due to, among other things, the inherent uncertainty in the sale of real estate assets, the amount of any potential distribution to the Noncontrolling Interests in the Company’s Partially Owned Properties is subject to change. To the extent that the partnerships’ underlying assets are worth less than the underlying liabilities, the Company has no obligation to remit any consideration to the Noncontrolling Interests in Partially Owned Properties.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 as required effective January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position. See Note 11 for further discussion.

 

11


In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FAS 157-2”), which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). FAS 157-2 partially defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company adopted FAS 157-2 as required effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of FAS 157-2 did not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 provides a “Fair Value Option” under which a company may irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial instruments. The Fair Value Option will be available on a contract-by-contract basis with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as those changes occur. SFAS No. 159 is effective beginning January 1, 2008, but the Company has decided not to adopt this optional standard.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1”), which requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods for publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. This FSP also amends APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, to require those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods and is effective for the Company for the quarterly period ending June 30, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 to have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) significantly changes the accounting for business combinations. Under SFAS No. 141(R), an acquiring entity is required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141(R) changes the accounting treatment for certain specific acquisition related items including: (1) expensing acquisition related costs as incurred (amounts are included in the other expenses line item in the consolidated statements of operations); (2) valuing noncontrolling interests at fair value at the acquisition date; and (3) expensing restructuring costs associated with an acquired business. SFAS No. 141(R) also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 141(R) has been applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. Due to the current decline in the Company’s acquisition activities, the initial adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) has not had a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies (“FAS 141(R)-1”), which amends and clarifies SFAS No. 141(R) to address application issues on initial recognition and measurement, subsequent measurement and accounting, and disclosure of assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. FAS 141(R)-1 has been applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. Due to the current decline in the Company’s acquisition activities, the initial adoption of FAS 141(R)-1 has not had a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements. SFAS No. 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the “Noncontrolling Interest” in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (minority interest) is in most cases an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent company’s equity. Among other requirements, this statement requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. It also requires disclosure, on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest. The Company adopted SFAS No. 160 as required effective January 1, 2009. Other than modifications to allocations and presentation, the adoption of SFAS No. 160 did not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position. See Note 3 for further discussion.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. SFAS No. 161 is intended to improve financial standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. Among other requirements, entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about: (1) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (2) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations;

 

12


and (3) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. The Company adopted SFAS No. 161 as required effective January 1, 2009. Other than the enhanced disclosure requirements, the adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. See Note 11 for further discussion.

In May 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement) (“APB 14-1”). APB 14-1 requires the issuer of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash on conversion to separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The Company adopted APB 14-1, which is applied retrospectively, as required effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of APB 14-1 affects the accounting for the Operating Partnership’s $650.0 million ($531.1 million outstanding at March 31, 2009) 3.85% convertible unsecured notes that were issued in August 2006 and mature in August 2026. The amount of the conversion option as of the date of issuance calculated by the Company was $44.3 million and is being amortized to interest expense over the expected life of the convertible notes (through the first put date on August 18, 2011). Total amortization of the cash discount and conversion option discount on the unsecured notes resulted in a reduction to earnings of approximately $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2009 and is anticipated to result in a reduction to earnings of approximately $9.3 million during the full year of 2009 assuming the Company does not repurchase any additional amounts of this debt. As a result of the adoption of APB 14-1, the Company decreased the January 1, 2009 balance of retained earnings by $27.0 million, decreased the January 1, 2009 balance of notes by $17.3 million and increased the January 1, 2009 balance of paid in capital by $44.3 million. Due to the required retrospective application, APB 14-1 resulted in a reduction to earnings of approximately $2.5 million or $0.01 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

3.

Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

The following tables present the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and “Units” (which includes OP Units and Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units) for the quarter ended March 31, 2009:

 

     2009

Common Shares

  

Common Shares outstanding at January 1,

   272,786,760  

Common Shares Issued:

  

Conversion of Series E Preferred Shares

   612  

Conversion of OP Units

   551,590  

Exercise of options

   5,246  

Employee Share Purchase Plan

   196,147  

Restricted share grants, net

   351,065  

Common Shares Other:

  

Repurchased and retired

   (47,450) 
    

Common Shares outstanding at March 31,

       273,843,970  
    

Units

  

Units outstanding at January 1,

   16,679,777  

LTIP Unit issuance

   155,189  

Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares

   (551,590) 
    

Units outstanding at March 31,

   16,283,376  
    

Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at March 31,

       290,127,346  
    

Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership

   5.6% 

LTIP Units Issued:

  

Issuance – per unit

   $0.50 

Issuance – contribution valuation

   $0.1 million 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company repurchased 47,450 of its Common Shares at an average price of $23.69 per share for total consideration of $1.1 million. These shares were retired subsequent to the repurchases. All of the shares repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were repurchased from employees at the then current market prices to cover the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of employees’ restricted

 

13


shares. EQR has authorization to repurchase an additional $466.5 million of its shares as of March 31, 2009.

The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the LTIP Units, are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of LTIP Units), the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their Units with EQR for EQR Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

A portion of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units are classified as mezzanine equity in accordance with EITF Topic D-98, Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities (“EITF D-98”) and EITF 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to and Potentially Settled in a Company’s Own Stock (“EITF 00-19”), as they do not meet the requirements for permanent equity classification. The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment to any and all holders of Units requesting an exchange from EQR. However, no aspect of an exchange requires a cash settlement by the Operating Partnership under any circumstances. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Units for cash, EQR is obligated, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered EQR Common Shares for a portion of the Units. This portion of the Units are collectively referred to as the “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership” and are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period as prescribed by EITF D-98 and EITF 00-19. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered EQR Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Units that are classified in permanent equity at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

The carrying value of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is based on the proportional relationship between the carrying value of equity associated with EQR’s Common Shares relative to that of the Unit holders of the Operating Partnership. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period. As of March 31, 2009, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership have a redemption value of approximately $153.6 million, which represents the value of EQR Common Shares that would be paid to the limited noncontrolling partners of the Operating Partnership.

The following table presents the change in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

     2009

Balance at January 1,

     $         264,394  

Change in market value

     (100,794) 

Change in carrying value

     (9,983) 
      

Balance at March 31,

     $         153,617  
      

Net proceeds from the Company’s Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings are contributed by the Company to the Operating Partnership. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in the Operating Partnership equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in the Operating Partnership equal in number and having the same terms as the Preferred Shares issued in the equity offering). As a result, the net offering proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of the Operating Partnership.

The Company’s declaration of trust authorizes the Company to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), with specific rights, preferences and other attributes as the Board of Trustees may determine, which may include preferences, powers and rights that are senior to the rights of holders of the Company’s Common Shares.

The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

14


                    Amounts in thousands
          Redemption  
Date (1) (2)
    Conversion  
Rate (2)
 

Annual

  Dividend per  

Share (3)

    March 31,  
2009
    December 31,  
2008

Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;

    100,000,000 shares authorized:

           

7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred;

    liquidation value $25 per share; 328,466 and 329,016

    shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and

    December 31, 2008, respectively

    11/1/98   1.1128   $1.75   $ 8,212     $ 8,225  

7.00% Series H Cumulative Convertible Preferred;

    liquidation value $25 per share; 22,459 shares issued and

    outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008

    6/30/98   1.4480   $1.75     561       561  

8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred;

    liquidation value $50 per share; 1,000,000 shares issued

    and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008

    12/10/26   N/A   $4.145     50,000       50,000  

6.48% Series N Cumulative Redeemable Preferred;

    liquidation value $250 per share; 600,000 shares issued and

    outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (4)

    6/19/08   N/A   $16.20     150,000       150,000  
                   
            $ 208,773       $ 208,786  
                   

 

  (1)

On or after the redemption date, redeemable preferred shares (Series K and N) may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.

 

  (2)

On or after the redemption date, convertible preferred shares (Series E & H) may be redeemed under certain circumstances at the option of the Company for cash (in the case of Series E) or Common Shares (in the case of Series H), in whole or in part, at various redemption prices per share based upon the contractual conversion rate, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.

 

  (3)

Dividends on all series of Preferred Shares are payable quarterly at various pay dates. The dividend listed for Series N is a Preferred Share rate and the equivalent Depositary Share annual dividend is $1.62 per share.

 

  (4)

The Series N Preferred Shares have a corresponding depositary share that consists of ten times the number of shares and one-tenth the liquidation value and dividend per share.

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Junior Convertible Preference Units (the “Junior Preference Units”) as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

        

  Redemption  

Date (2)

  

  Conversion  

Rate (2)

        Amounts in thousands
          

Annual

Dividend

  per Unit (1)  

     March 31,  
2009
     December 31,  
2008

Junior Preference Units:

                

Series B Junior Convertible Preference Units;

    liquidation value $25 per unit; 7,367 units

    issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and

    December 31, 2008

     7/29/09    1.020408    $2.00      $ 184        $ 184  
                        
                $ 184        $ 184  
                        

 

  (1) Dividends on the Junior Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates.

 

  (2)

On or after the tenth anniversary of the issuance (the “Redemption Date”), the Series B Junior Preference Units may be converted into OP Units at the option of the Operating Partnership based on the contractual conversion rate. Prior to the Redemption Date, the holders may elect to convert the Series B Junior Preference Units to OP Units under certain circumstances based on the contractual conversion rate. The contractual rate is based upon a ratio dependent upon the closing price of EQR’s Common Shares.

 

15


4. Real Estate

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Company’s investment in real estate (at cost) as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (amounts in thousands):

 

          March 31,  
2009
    December 31,  
2008

Land

      $ 3,675,048       $ 3,671,299  

Depreciable property:

     

    Buildings and improvements

      12,913,124       12,836,310  

    Furniture, fixtures and equipment

      1,089,593       1,072,284  

Projects under development:

     

    Land

      159,158       175,355  

    Construction-in-progress

      603,483       680,118  

Land held for development:

     

    Land

      205,190       205,757  

    Construction-in-progress

      53,733       49,116  
             

Investment in real estate

      18,699,329       18,690,239  

Accumulated depreciation

      (3,674,402)      (3,561,300) 
             

Investment in real estate, net

      $     15,024,927       $ 15,128,939  
             

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company acquired all of its partner’s interest in three partially owned properties consisting of 833 units for $2.8 million.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company disposed of the following to unaffiliated parties (sales price in thousands):

 

      Properties       Units       Sales Price  

Rental Properties:

     

Wholly Owned

  11     1,531       $     139,573  

Partially Owned – Unconsolidated (1)

  1     216       20,700  

Condominium Conversion Properties

  1     1       146  
             

Total

  13       1,748       $     160,419  
             

 

  (1)

The Company owned a 25% interest in this unconsolidated rental property. Sales price listed is the gross sales price.

The Company recognized a net gain on sales of discontinued operations of approximately $61.9 million and a net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities of approximately $2.8 million on the above sales.

 

5. Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate

As of April 30, 2009, the Company had entered into an agreement to acquire one land parcel for $23.5 million.

As of April 30, 2009, the Company had entered into separate agreements to dispose of 17 properties consisting of 3,366 units for $287.3 million.

The closings of these pending transactions are subject to certain conditions and restrictions, therefore, there can be no assurance that these transactions will be consummated or that the final terms will not differ in material respects from those summarized in the preceding paragraphs.

 

6. Investments in Partially Owned Entities

The Company has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties which are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting (unconsolidated). The following table summarizes the Company’s investments in partially owned entities as of March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands except for project and unit amounts):

 

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        Consolidated     Unconsolidated  
        Development Projects    
        Held for
and/or Under
  development  
  Completed,
Not
  Stabilized (4)  
    Completed  
and
Stabilized
    Other       Total     Institutional
Joint
  Ventures (5)  

Total projects (1)

      -       2       3       21       26       40  
                                     

Total units (1)

      -       760       704       3,942       5,406       9,560  
                                     

Debt – Secured (2):

             

   EQR Ownership (3)

      $     400,041       $ 220,779       $     108,466       $     215,820       $ 945,106       $ 121,200  

   Noncontrolling Ownership

      -       -       -       86,310       86,310       363,600  
                                     

Total (at 100%)

      $     400,041       $ 220,779       $     108,466       $     302,130       $     1,031,416       $ 484,800  
                                     

 

  (1)

Project and unit counts exclude all uncompleted development projects until those projects are completed.

  (2)

All debt is non-recourse to the Company with the exception of $125.8 million in mortgage debt on various development projects.

  (3)

Represents the Company’s current economic ownership interest.

  (4)

Projects included here are substantially complete. However, they may still require additional exterior and interior work for all units to be available for leasing.

  (5)

Mortgage debt is also partially collateralized by $52.9 million in unconsolidated restricted cash set aside from the net proceeds of property sales.

 

7. Deposits – Restricted

The following table presents the Company’s restricted deposits as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (amounts in thousands):

 

              March 31,       December 31,  
            2009   2008

Tax–deferred (1031) exchange proceeds

        $ 43,020       $ -  

Earnest money on pending acquisitions

        1,200       1,200  

Restricted deposits on debt (1)

        89,052       96,229  

Resident security and utility deposits

        40,616       41,478  

Other

        13,288       13,465  
               

Totals

        $ 187,176       $ 152,372  
               

 

  (1) Primarily represents amounts held in escrow by the lender and released as draw requests are made on fully funded development mortgage loans.

 

8. Mortgage Notes Payable

As of March 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding mortgage debt of approximately $4.9 billion.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company:

 

   

Repaid $146.2 million of mortgage loans;

   

Obtained $57.7 million of new mortgage loans primarily on development properties; and

   

Was released from $4.4 million of mortgage debt assumed by the purchaser on a disposed property.

As of March 31, 2009, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding mortgage indebtedness were at various dates through September 1, 2048. At March 31, 2009, the interest rate range on the Company’s mortgage debt was 0.25% to 12.465%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s mortgage debt was 4.84%.

 

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9. Notes

As of March 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $5.1 billion.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company repurchased at par $105.2 million of its 4.75% fixed rate public notes due June 15, 2009 and $185.2 million of its 6.95% fixed rate public notes due March 2, 2011 pursuant to a cash tender offer announced on January 16, 2009. The Company wrote-off approximately $0.4 million of unamortized deferred financing costs and approximately $1.1 million of unamortized discounts on notes payable in connection with these repurchases.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company repurchased $17.5 million of its 3.85% convertible fixed rate public notes due August 15, 2026 at a discount to par of approximately 11.6%. The Company recognized a gain on early debt extinguishment of $2.0 million and wrote-off approximately $0.1 million of unamortized deferred financing costs and approximately $0.8 million of unamortized discounts on notes payable in connection with these repurchases.

As of March 31, 2009, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding notes were at various dates through 2029. At March 31, 2009, the interest rate range on the Company’s notes was 0.63% to 7.57%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s notes was 5.42%.

 

10. Lines of Credit

The Operating Partnership has a $1.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on February 28, 2012, with the ability to increase available borrowings by an additional $500.0 million by adding additional banks to the facility or obtaining the agreement of existing banks to increase their commitments. Advances under the credit facility bear interest at variable rates based upon LIBOR at various interest periods plus a spread (currently 0.5%) dependent upon the Operating Partnership’s credit rating or based on bids received from the lending group. EQR has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s credit facility up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, one of the providers of the Operating Partnership’s unsecured revolving credit facility declared bankruptcy. Under the existing terms of the credit facility, the provider’s share is up to $75.0 million of potential borrowings. As a result, the Operating Partnership’s borrowing capacity under the unsecured revolving credit facility has in essence been permanently reduced to $1.425 billion of potential borrowings. The obligation to fund by all of the other providers has not changed.

As of March 31, 2009, the amount available on the credit facility was $1.31 billion (net of $115.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and net of the $75.0 million discussed above). The Company did not draw on its revolving credit facility at any time during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

 

11. Derivative and Other Fair Value Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Company seeks to limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated derivative instruments at March 31, 2009 (dollar amounts are in thousands):

 

            Fair Value
  Hedges (1)  
    Forward Starting  
Swaps/Treasury
Locks (2)
    Development  
Cash Flow
Hedges (3)

Current Notional Balance

        $         335,693       $ 250,000       $     230,955  

Lowest Possible Notional

        $         335,693       $ 250,000       $     46,753  

Highest Possible Notional

        $         337,694       $ 250,000       $     320,061  

Lowest Interest Rate

        3.245%     2.575%     4.059%

Highest Interest Rate

        4.800%     2.610%     6.000%

Earliest Maturity Date

        2009       2009       2009  

Latest Maturity Date

        2012       2009       2011  

 

18


  (1)  

Fair Value Hedges – Converts outstanding fixed rate debt to a floating interest rate.

  (2)  

Forward Starting Swaps/Treasury Locks – Designed to partially fix the interest rate in advance of a planned future debt issuance.

  (3)  

Development Cash Flow Hedges – Converts outstanding floating rate debt to a fixed interest rate.

The following table provides the location of the Company’s derivative instruments within the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and their fair market values as of March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

    

Asset Derivatives

   Liability Derivatives
    

  Balance Sheet  

Location

     Fair Value        Balance Sheet  
Location
     Fair Value  

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

           

    Interest Rate Contracts:

           

        Fair Value Hedges

   Other assets      $ 4,522      Other liabilities      $ -  

        Forward Starting Swaps/Treasury Locks

   Other assets      2,212      Other liabilities      -  

        Development Cash Flow Hedges

   Other assets      4      Other liabilities      (6,377) 
                   

Total

        $ 6,738           $ (6,377) 
                   

The following table provides a summary of the effect of fair value hedges on the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

Type of Fair Value Hedge

    Location of Gain/(Loss)  
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
    Amount of Gain/(Loss)  
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
    Hedged Item     Income Statement
  Location of Hedged  
Item Gain/(Loss)
    Amount of Gain/(Loss)  
Recognized in Income
on Hedged Item

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

         

Interest Rate Contracts:

         

Interest Rate Swaps

  Interest expense     $ (1,831)     Fixed rate debt   Interest expense     $ 1,831  
                 

Total

      $ (1,831)           $ 1,831  
                 

The following table provides a summary of the effect of cash flow hedges on the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

Type of Cash Flow Hedge

  Effective Portion   Ineffective Portion
  Amount of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in OCI
on Derivative
  Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
  Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
  Location of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
  Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

         

Interest Rate Contracts:

         

Forward Starting Swaps/Treasury Locks

    $ 2,212     Interest expense     $ (1,493)     N/A     $ -  

Development Interest Rate Swaps/Caps

    448     Interest expense     -     N/A     -  
                     

Total

    $ 2,660         $ (1,493)         $ -  
                     

As of March 31, 2009, there were approximately $33.0 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at March 31, 2009, the Company may recognize an estimated $8.3 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending March 31, 2010.

In January 2009, the Company received approximately $0.4 million to terminate a fair value hedge of interest rates in conjunction with the public tender of the Company’s 4.75% fixed rate public notes due June 15, 2009. Approximately $0.2 million of the settlement received has been deferred and will be recognized as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining life of the notes.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company continued to invest in various investment securities in an effort to increase the amounts earned on the significant amount of unrestricted cash on hand throughout 2008 and 2009. The following table sets forth the maturity, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, book/fair value and interest and other income of the various investment securities held as of March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

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          Other Assets     

Security

  

Maturity

       Amortized    
Cost
       Unrealized    
Gains
       Unrealized    
Losses
   Book/
    Fair Value    
   Interest and
    Other Income    

Held-to-Maturity

                 

FDIC-insured promissory notes

   Less than one year      $         100,000        $ -        $ -         $         100,000        $ 241  
                                     

Total Held-to-Maturity

        100,000        -        -         100,000        241  

Available-for-Sale

                 

FDIC-insured certificates of deposit

   Less than one year      39,000        237        -         39,237        319  

Other

   Between one and five years or N/A      56,919        3,626        (123)       60,422        1,750  
                                     

Total Available-for-Sale

        95,919        3,863        (123)       99,659        2,069  
                                     

Grand Total

        $ 195,919        $         3,863        $         (123)       $ 199,659        $         2,310  
                                     

SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

   

Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 

   

Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s derivative positions are valued using models developed by the respective counterparty as well as models developed internally by the Company that use as their basis readily observable market parameters (such as forward yield curves and credit default swap data) and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. In addition, employee holdings other than EQR Common Shares within the supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) have a fair value of $38.1 million as of March 31, 2009 and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These SERP investments are valued using quoted market prices for identical assets and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

The Company’s investment securities are valued using quoted market prices or readily available market interest rate data. The quoted market prices are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy and the market interest rate data are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

12. Earnings Per Share

The following tables set forth the computation of net income per share – basic and net income per share – diluted (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

 

20


         Quarter Ended March 31,    
     2009    2008

Numerator for net income per share – basic:

     

Income from continuing operations

     $         23,487        $         17,934  

Allocation to Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership, net

     (1,142)       (891) 

Net loss (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     69        (268) 

Net income attributable to Preference Interests and Units

     (4)       (4) 

Preferred distributions

     (3,620)       (3,633) 
             

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares, net of Noncontrolling Interests

     18,790        13,138  

Discontinued operations, net of Noncontrolling Interests

     58,385        121,352  
             

Numerator for net income per share – basic

     $ 77,175        $ 134,490  
             

Numerator for net income per share – diluted:

     

Income from continuing operations

     $ 23,487        $ 17,934  

Net loss (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     69        (268) 

Net income attributable to Preference Interests and Units

     (4)       (4) 

Preferred distributions

     (3,620)       (3,633) 
             

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares

     19,932        14,029  

Discontinued operations, net

     61,934        129,594  
             

Numerator for net income per share – diluted

     $ 81,866        $ 143,623  
             

Denominator for net income per share – basic and diluted:

     

Denominator for net income per share – basic

     272,324        268,784  

Effect of dilutive securities:

     

OP Units

     16,386        18,295  

Long-term compensation award shares/units

     143        2,238  
             

Denominator for net income per share – diluted

     288,853        289,317  
             

Net income per share – basic

     $ 0.28        $ 0.50  
             

Net income per share – diluted

     $ 0.28        $ 0.50  
             

Net income per share – basic:

     

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares, net of Noncontrolling Interests

     $ 0.069        $ 0.049  

Discontinued operations, net of Noncontrolling Interests

     0.214        0.451  
             

Net income per share – basic

     $ 0.283        $ 0.500  
             

Net income per share – diluted:

     

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares

     $ 0.069        $ 0.048  

Discontinued operations, net

     0.214        0.448  
             

Net income per share – diluted

     $ 0.283        $ 0.496  
             

Convertible preferred shares/units that could be converted into 406,031 and 444,474 weighted average Common Shares for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive. In addition, the effect of the Common Shares that could ultimately be issued upon the conversion/exchange of the Operating Partnership’s $650.0 million ($531.1 million outstanding at March 31, 2009) exchangeable senior notes was not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.

 

13. Discontinued Operations

The Company has presented separately as discontinued operations in all periods the results of operations for all consolidated assets disposed of on or after January 1, 2002 (the date of adoption of SFAS No. 144), all operations related

 

21


to active condominium conversion properties effective upon their respective transfer into a TRS and all properties held for sale, if any.

The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Company owned such assets during the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (amounts in thousands).

 

         Quarter Ended March 31,    
     2009    2008

REVENUES

     

Rental income

     $         3,945      $ 25,501  
             

Total revenues

     3,945        25,501  
             

EXPENSES (1)

     

Property and maintenance

     2,796        8,777  

Real estate taxes and insurance

     528        3,235  

Property management

     -        (65) 

Depreciation

     443        6,385  

General and administrative

     5        3  
             

Total expenses

     3,772        18,335  
             

Discontinued operating income

     173        7,166  

Interest and other income

     3        (18) 

Interest (2):

     

Expense incurred, net

     (35)       (269) 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     (32)       (1) 

Income and other tax (expense) benefit

     (46)       199  
             

Discontinued operations

     63        7,077  

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations

     61,871        122,517  
             

Discontinued operations, net

     $ 61,934        $ 129,594  
             

 

  (1) Includes expenses paid in the current period for properties sold or held for sale in prior periods related to the Company’s period of ownership.
  (2) Includes only interest expense specific to secured mortgage notes payable for properties sold and/or held for sale.

For the properties sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (excluding condominium conversion properties), the investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, and the mortgage notes payable balances at December 31, 2008 were $75.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

The net real estate basis of the Company’s active condominium conversion properties owned by the TRS and included in discontinued operations (excludes the Company’s halted conversions as they are now held for use), which were included in investment in real estate, net in the consolidated balance sheets, was $12.5 million and $12.6 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

 

14. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws. Compliance by the Company with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Company. However, the Company cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on its current properties or on properties that it may acquire in the future.

The Company is party to a housing discrimination lawsuit brought by a non-profit civil rights organization in April 2006 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The suit alleges that the Company designed and built approximately 300 of its properties in violation of the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit seeks actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief (including modification of non-compliant properties), costs and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes it has a number of viable defenses, including that a majority of

 

22


the named properties were completed before the operative dates of the statutes in question and/or were not designed or built by the Company. Accordingly, the Company is defending the suit vigorously. Due to the pendency of the Company’s defenses and the uncertainty of many other critical factual and legal issues, it is not possible to determine or predict the outcome of the suit and as a result, no amounts have been accrued at March 31, 2009. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that the suit, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company does not believe there is any other litigation pending or threatened against it that, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably may be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company has established a reserve and recorded a corresponding reduction to its net gain on sales of discontinued operations related to potential liabilities associated with its condominium conversion activities. The reserve covers potential product liability related to each conversion. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of the reserve and makes adjustments as necessary. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company paid approximately $0.7 million in settlements. As a result, the Company had total reserves of approximately $9.6 million at March 31, 2009. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these potential liabilities, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

As of March 31, 2009, the Company has eight projects totaling 2,826 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2011. Some of the projects are developed solely by the Company, while others are co-developed with various third party development partners. The development venture agreements with partners are primarily deal-specific, with differing terms regarding profit-sharing, equity contributions, returns on investment, buy-sell agreements and other customary provisions. The partner is most often the “general” or “managing” partner of the development venture. The typical buy-sell arrangements contain appraisal rights and provisions that provide the right, but not the obligation, for the Company to acquire the partner’s interest in the project at fair market value upon the expiration of a negotiated time period (typically two to five years after substantial completion of the project). However, the buy-sell provisions with one partner covering three projects required the Company to purchase the partner’s interest in the projects at fair market value five years following the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company paid approximately $2.8 million to acquire its partner’s interest in the three projects.

 

15. Reportable Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by senior management. Senior management decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a monthly basis.

The Company’s primary business is owning, managing and operating multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. Senior management evaluates the performance of each of our apartment communities individually and geographically, and both on a same store and non-same store basis; however, each of our apartment communities generally has similar economic characteristics, residents, products and services. The Company’s operating segments have been aggregated by geography in a manner identical to that which is provided to its chief operating decision maker.

The Company’s fee and asset management, development (including FIN No. 46 partially owned properties), condominium conversion and corporate housing (Equity Corporate Housing or “ECH”) activities are immaterial and do not individually meet the threshold requirements of a reportable segment as provided for in SFAS No. 131 and as such, have been aggregated in the tables presented below.

All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues during the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The primary financial measure for the Company’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense (all as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations). The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company’s apartment communities. Current year NOI is compared to prior year NOI and current year budgeted NOI as a measure of financial performance. The following tables present NOI for each segment from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the quarters ended March 31,

 

23


2009 and 2008, respectively, as well as total assets at March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
         Northeast            Northwest            Southeast            Southwest            Other (3)        Total

Rental income:

                 

Same store (1)

     $ 140,105        $ 98,937        $ 113,319        $ 111,484        $ -        $ 463,845  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     12,554        4,541        3,175        7,813        20,353        48,436  
                                         

Total rental income

     152,659        103,478        116,494        119,297        20,353        512,281  

Operating expenses:

                 

Same store (1)

     55,260        35,367        48,900        38,970        -        178,497  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     5,482        2,158        1,344        3,568        17,472        30,024  
                                         

Total operating expenses

     60,742        37,525        50,244        42,538        17,472        208,521  

NOI:

                 

Same store (1)

     84,845        63,570        64,419        72,514        -        285,348  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     7,072        2,383        1,831        4,245        2,881        18,412  
                                         

Total NOI

     $ 91,917        $ 65,953        $ 66,250        $ 76,759        $ 2,881        $ 303,760  
                                         

Total assets

     $     4,786,043        $     2,736,714        $     3,129,038        $     2,988,498        $     2,395,363        $     16,035,656  
                                         

 

  (1)

Same store includes properties owned for all of both periods ending March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 which represented 123,120 units.

  (2) Non-same store includes properties acquired after January 1, 2008.
  (3)

Other includes ECH, development, condominium conversion overhead of $0.5 million and other corporate operations. Also reflects a $2.3 million elimination of rental income recorded in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest operating segments related to ECH.

 

     Quarter Ended March 31, 2008
         Northeast            Northwest            Southeast            Southwest            Other (3)        Total

Rental income:

                 

Same store (1)

     $         138,860        $         97,515        $         115,478        $         112,849        $ -        $ 464,702  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     4,912        4,292        22        5,325        21,094        35,645  
                                         

Total rental income

     143,772        101,807        115,500        118,174        21,094        500,347  

Operating expenses:

                 

Same store (1)

     53,710        34,530        47,411        38,027        -        173,678  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     2,878        1,522        80        3,782        25,400        33,662  
                                         

Total operating expenses

     56,588        36,052        47,491        41,809        25,400        207,340  

NOI:

                 

Same store (1)

     85,150        62,985        68,067        74,822        -        291,024  

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     2,034        2,770        (58)       1,543        (4,306)       1,983  
                                         

Total NOI

     $ 87,184        $ 65,755        $ 68,009        $ 76,365        $         (4,306)       $         293,007  
                                         

 

  (1)

Same store includes properties owned for all of both periods ending March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 which represented 123,120 units.

  (2) Non-same store includes properties acquired after January 1, 2008.
  (3)

Other includes ECH, development, condominium conversion overhead of $0.7 million and other corporate operations. Also reflects a $3.2 million elimination of rental income recorded in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest operating segments related to ECH.

Note: Markets included in the above geographic segments are as follows:

(a)

Northeast – New England (excluding Boston), Boston, New York Metro, DC Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.

(b)

Northwest – Central Valley, Denver, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle/Tacoma.

(c)

Southeast – Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, Raleigh/Durham, South Florida and Tampa.

(d)

Southwest – Albuquerque, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego and Tulsa.

 

24


The following table presents a reconciliation of NOI from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

Rental income

     $         512,281        $         500,347  

Property and maintenance expense

     (133,543)       (132,837) 

Real estate taxes and insurance expense

     (55,964)       (53,327) 

Property management expense

     (19,014)       (21,176) 
             

Total operating expenses

     (208,521)       (207,340) 
             

Net operating income

     $         303,760        $         293,007  
             

 

16.

Subsequent Events/Other

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to March 31, 2009 and through April 30, 2009, the Company repaid $281.0 million of mortgage loans.

Other

During the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded approximately $0.6 million and $1.7 million of additional general and administrative expense, respectively, and $0.4 million and $0.2 million of additional property management expense, respectively, related primarily to cash severance for various employees.

 

25


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

For further information including definitions for capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this report are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made by management. While the Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such information is inherently subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to the following:

 

   

We intend to actively acquire multifamily properties for rental operations as market conditions dictate. The Company does not currently intend to begin the development of any new wholly-owned projects but has a substantial number of properties under development now and may commence new development activities if conditions warrant. We may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquired property up to standards established for its intended market position or to complete a development property. Additionally, we expect that other major real estate investors with significant capital will compete with us for attractive investment opportunities or may also develop properties in markets where we focus our development efforts. This competition may increase prices for multifamily properties. We may not be in a position or have the opportunity in the future to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms. To the extent that we do develop more properties if conditions warrant, we expect to do so ourselves in addition to co-investing with our development partners. The total number of development units, cost of development and estimated completion dates are subject to uncertainties arising from changing economic conditions (such as the cost of labor and construction materials), competition and local government regulation;

   

Sources of capital to the Company or labor and materials required for maintenance, repair, capital expenditure or development may be more expensive than anticipated;

   

Occupancy levels and market rents may be adversely affected by national and local economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction and excess inventory of multifamily housing and single family housing, slow or negative employment growth, availability of low interest mortgages for single family home buyers and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Company’s control; and

   

Additional factors as discussed in Part I of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly those under “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.

Forward-looking statements and related uncertainties are also included in Notes 2, 5, 11 and 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Overview

Equity Residential (“EQR”), a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993, is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top United States growth markets. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT.

The Company is one of the largest publicly traded real estate companies and is the largest publicly traded owner of multifamily properties in the United States (based on the aggregate market value of its outstanding Common Shares, the number of apartment units wholly owned and total revenues earned). The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois and the Company also operates property management offices throughout the United States. As of April 30, 2009, the Company has approximately 4,600 employees who provide real estate operations, leasing, legal, financial, accounting, acquisition, disposition, development and other support functions.

 

26


EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2009 owned an approximate 94.4% ownership interest in, ERP Operating Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) under which all property ownership and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. References to the “Company” include EQR, the Operating Partnership and those entities owned or controlled by the Operating Partnership and/or EQR.

Business Objectives and Operating Strategies

The Company seeks to maximize current income, capital appreciation of each property and the total return for its shareholders. The Company’s strategy for accomplishing these objectives includes:

 

   

Leveraging our size and scale in four critical ways:

 

   

Investing in apartment communities located in strategically targeted markets to maximize our total return on an enterprise level;

   

Meeting the needs of our residents by offering a wide array of product choices and a commitment to service;

   

Engaging, retaining and attracting the best employees by providing them with the education, resources and opportunities to succeed; and

   

Sharing resources, customers and best practices in property management and across the enterprise.

 

   

Owning a highly diversified portfolio by investing in target markets defined by a combination of the following criteria:

 

   

High barrier-to-entry (low supply);

   

Strong economic predictors (high demand); and

   

Attractive quality of life (high demand and retention).

 

   

Giving residents reasons to stay with the Company by providing a range of product options available in our diversified portfolio and by enhancing their experience through our employees and our services.

 

   

Being open and responsive to market realities to take advantage of investment opportunities that align with our long-term vision.

Acquisition, Development and Disposition Strategies

The Company anticipates that future property acquisitions, developments and dispositions will occur within the United States. Acquisitions and developments may be financed from various sources of capital, which may include retained cash flow, issuance of additional equity and debt securities, sales of properties, joint venture agreements and collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings. In addition, the Company may acquire properties in transactions that include the issuance of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) as consideration for the acquired properties. Such transactions may, in certain circumstances, enable the sellers to defer, in whole or in part, the recognition of taxable income or gain that might otherwise result from the sales. EQR may also acquire land parcels to hold and/or sell based on market opportunities.

When evaluating potential acquisitions, developments and dispositions, the Company generally considers the following factors:

 

   

strategically targeted markets;

   

income levels and employment growth trends in the relevant market;

   

employment and household growth and net migration of the relevant market’s population;

   

barriers to entry that would limit competition (zoning laws, building permit availability, supply of undeveloped or developable real estate, local building costs and construction costs, among other factors);

   

the location, construction quality, condition and design of the property;

   

the current and projected cash flow of the property and the ability to increase cash flow;

   

the potential for capital appreciation of the property;

   

the terms of resident leases, including the potential for rent increases;

   

the potential for economic growth and the tax and regulatory environment of the community in which the property is located;

 

27


   

the occupancy and demand by residents for properties of a similar type in the vicinity (the overall market and submarket);

   

the prospects for liquidity through sale, financing or refinancing of the property;

   

the benefits of integration into existing operations;

   

purchase prices and yields of available existing stabilized properties, if any;

   

competition from existing multifamily properties, comparably priced single family homes or rentals, residential properties under development and the potential for the construction of new multifamily properties in the area; and

   

opportunistic selling based on demand and price of high quality assets, including condominium conversions.

The Company generally reinvests the proceeds received from property dispositions primarily to achieve its acquisition, development and rehab strategies and at times to fund its debt and equity repurchase activities. In addition, when feasible, the Company may structure these transactions as tax-deferred exchanges.

Current Environment

The slowdown in the economy, which accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2008 and has continued into 2009, coupled with continued job losses and/or lack of job growth leads us to be cautious regarding expected performance for the remainder of 2009. Since the fourth quarter of 2008 and continuing into the second quarter of 2009, our revenue has declined in most of our major markets as the economic slowdown continues to impact existing and prospective residents. Markets with little employment loss should perform better than markets with employment issues, although all of our markets are continuing to experience job losses. Should the current credit crisis and general economic recession continue, the Company may continue to experience a period of declining revenues, which would adversely impact the Company’s results of operations. The vast majority of our leases are for terms of 12 months or less. As a result, we quickly feel the impact of an economic downturn which limits our ability to raise rents or causes us to lower rents on turnover units and lease renewals. Since the second half of 2008, continued job losses and lower household formation have caused us to lower rents (sometimes significantly) for new residents. While we have generally been able to maintain existing rent levels with renewing residents, we have seen declines in certain markets.

After two consecutive years of modest expense growth (same store expenses grew 2.2% between 2008 and 2007 and 2.1% between 2007 and 2006), the Company anticipates that 2009 expenses will increase at a higher rate primarily due to cost pressures from non-controllable areas such as utilities and real estate taxes. Accordingly, quarter over quarter same store expenses increased 2.8% during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The combination of expected declines in revenues and higher overall expense levels will have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations for 2009.

The continued credit crisis has negatively impacted the availability and pricing of debt capital. During this time, the multifamily residential sector has benefited from the continued liquidity provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A vast majority of the properties we sold in 2008 and 2009 were financed for the purchaser by one of these agencies. Furthermore, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provided us with approximately $1.6 billion of secured mortgage financing in 2008 at attractive rates when compared to other sources of credit. Should these agencies discontinue providing liquidity to our sector, have their mandates changed or reduced or be disbanded or reorganized by the government, it would significantly reduce our access to debt capital and/or increase borrowing costs and would significantly reduce our sales of assets.

In response to the recession and liquidity issues prevalent in the debt markets, we took a number of steps to better position ourselves. In early 2008, we began pre-funding our maturing debt obligations with approximately $1.6 billion in secured mortgage financing obtained from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We also significantly reduced our acquisition activity. During the second half of 2008 and into the first quarter of 2009, we only acquired one property while we continued selling non-core assets. We expect to continue to be a net seller of assets during 2009 should current conditions continue. Additionally, we significantly reduced our development activities, starting only two new projects in the first half of 2008 and none in the second half of the year or in the first quarter of 2009. We also reduced the number of planned development projects we will undertake in the future and took a $116.4 million impairment charge in 2008 to reduce the value of five assets that we no longer plan on pursuing. We do not currently anticipate starting any new wholly-owned development projects during 2009 unless market conditions improve significantly. Finally, during 2009 we also expect to continue our focus on our expense control initiatives.

Our specific current expectations regarding our results for 2009 and certain items that will affect them are set forth under Results of Operations below.

 

28


We believe that cash and cash equivalents, securities readily convertible to cash and current availability on our revolving credit facility will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our funding obligations relating to debt retirement and existing development projects into 2011. We expect that our remaining funding obligations for 2011 and subsequent periods will be met through new borrowings, property dispositions and cash generated from operations.

Despite the challenging conditions noted above, we believe that the Company is well-positioned to withstand the continuing economic downturn. Our properties are geographically diverse and were approximately 93% occupied as of March 31, 2009, little new multifamily rental supply has been added to most of our markets, the national single family home ownership rate continues to decline and the long-term demographic picture is positive.

We believe we are well-positioned with a strong balance sheet and sufficient liquidity to cover debt maturities and development fundings in the near term, which should allow us to take advantage of investment opportunities should distressed assets become available at significant discounts. When economic conditions improve, the short-term nature of our leases and the limited supply of new rental housing being constructed should allow us to quickly realize revenue growth and improvement in our operating results.

Results of Operations

In conjunction with our business objectives and operating strategy, the Company continued to invest or recycle its capital investment in apartment communities located in strategically targeted markets during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as follows:

 

   

Sold $160.3 million of apartment properties consisting of 12 properties and 1,747 units, as well as 1 condominium unit for $0.1 million.

The Company’s primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental income less property and maintenance expense, real estate tax and insurance expense and property management expense. The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company’s apartment communities.

Properties that the Company owned for all of both of the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (the “First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties”), which represented 123,120 units, impacted the Company’s results of operations. The First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The Company’s acquisition, disposition and completed development activities also impacted overall results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. The impacts of these activities are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

Comparison of the quarter ended March 31, 2009 to the quarter ended March 31, 2008

For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, income from continuing operations increased by approximately $5.6 million or 31.0% when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The increase in continuing operations is discussed below.

Revenues from the First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties decreased $0.9 million primarily as a result of an increase in move-in concessions offered to residents and a decline in occupancy, partially offset by a minor increase in average rental rates charged to residents. Expenses from the First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties increased $4.8 million primarily due to higher real estate taxes, payroll and utility costs. The following tables provide comparative results and statistics for the First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties:

 

29


First Quarter 2009 vs. First Quarter 2008

Quarter over Quarter Same Store Results/Statistics

$ in thousands (except for Average Rental Rate) – 123,120 Same Store Units

 

     Results    Statistics

    Description    

   Revenues    Expenses    NOI    Average
Rental

Rate (1)
   Occupancy    Turnover

Q1 2009

     $     463,845         $     178,497         $     285,348         $     1,341      93.7%      13.5%  

Q1 2008

     $ 464,702         $ 173,678         $ 291,024         $ 1,337      94.2%      13.7%  
                                     

Change

     $ (857)        $ 4,819         $ (5,676)        $ 4      (0.5%)      (0.2%)  
                                     

Change

     (0.2%)        2.8%        (2.0%)        0.3%        

(1) Average rental rate is defined as total rental revenues divided by the weighted average occupied units for the period.

The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations to NOI for the First Quarter 2009 Same Store Properties:

 

         Quarter Ended March 31,      
     2009     2008  
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Operating income

   $ 144,181     $ 139,509  

Adjustments:

    

Non-same store operating results

     (18,412 )     (1,983 )

Fee and asset management revenue

     (2,863 )     (2,294 )

Fee and asset management expense

     2,003       2,180  

Depreciation

     150,045       141,195  

General and administrative

     10,394       12,417  
                

Same store NOI

   $     285,348     $     291,024  
                

For properties that the Company acquired prior to January 1, 2008 and expects to continue to own through December 31, 2009, the Company anticipates the following same store results for the full year ending December 31, 2009:

 

2009 Same Store Assumptions

Physical occupancy

   93.5%

Revenue change

   (4.50%) to (1.50%)

Expense change

   2.50% to 3.50%

NOI change

   (9.25%) to (3.75%)

These 2009 assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

Non-same store operating results increased approximately $16.4 million and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar year 2008, as well as operations from completed development properties and our corporate housing business.

See also Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s segment disclosures.

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses, increased approximately $0.7 million primarily due to an increase in revenue earned on the management of our military housing venture at Fort Lewis along with the addition of McChord Air Force Base, as well as a decrease in asset management expenses. As of March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company managed 14,263 and 14,472 units, respectively, primarily for unconsolidated entities and our military housing ventures at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.

 

30


Property management expenses from continuing operations include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Company’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies. These expenses decreased by approximately $2.2 million or 10.2%. This decrease is primarily attributable to lower overall payroll-related costs as a result of a decrease in the number of properties in the Company’s portfolio.

Depreciation expense from continuing operations, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased approximately $8.9 million or 6.3% primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on properties acquired in 2008, the reclassification of 2008 depreciation expense to discontinued operations for properties sold subsequent to January 1, 2008 and capital expenditures for all properties owned.

General and administrative expenses from continuing operations, which include corporate operating expenses, decreased approximately $2.0 million or 16.3% primarily due to lower overall payroll-related costs as a result of a decrease in the number of properties in the Company’s portfolio, as well as a $1.1 million decrease in severance related costs in 2009. The Company anticipates that general and administrative expenses will approximate $40.0 million to $42.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2009. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Interest and other income from continuing operations increased approximately $2.7 million or 78.7% primarily as a result of interest earned on the Company’s investment in corporate notes (see Note 11) as well as a $2.0 million gain recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 related to the partial debt extinguishment of the Company’s August 2026 convertible notes (see Note 9). This was partially offset by a decrease in interest earned on 1031 exchange and security deposits due primarily to the decline in the Company’s transaction activities and a decrease in interest earned on cash and cash equivalents due to a decrease in interest rates and overall balances, as well as less litigation settlement proceeds received in 2009. The Company anticipates that interest and other income will approximate $11.0 million to $14.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2009. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Other expenses increased approximately $0.1 million primarily due to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) on January 1, 2009, which required the expensing of transaction costs associated with the Company’s acquisition of all of its partner’s interest in three previously partially owned properties consisting of 833 units during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Interest expense from continuing operations, including amortization of deferred financing costs, increased approximately $5.2 million or 4.3% primarily as a result of higher overall debt levels outstanding due to the Company’s pre-funding of its 2008 and 2009 debt maturities and lower capitalized interest, partially offset by lower overall effective interest rates. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company capitalized interest costs of approximately $10.6 million as compared to $14.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. This capitalization of interest primarily relates to consolidated projects under development. The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was 5.41% as compared to 5.61% for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The Company anticipates that interest expense will approximate $475.0 million to $495.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2009. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Income and other tax expense from continuing operations decreased approximately $0.9 million or 28.8% primarily due to a change in estimate for Texas state taxes, partially offset by an increase in business taxes for Washington, D.C. The Company anticipates that income and other tax expense will approximate $3.0 million to $4.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2009. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities increased approximately $0.1 million as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2008 primarily due to the recognition of operating losses from one of the Company’s partially owned unconsolidated entities.

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities increased approximately $2.8 million between the periods under comparison as the Company recognized a $2.8 million gain on the sale of an unconsolidated institutional joint venture property during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Discontinued operations, net decreased approximately $67.7 million or 52.2% between the periods under comparison. This decrease is primarily due to a decrease in the number and mix of properties sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 and the operations of those properties. See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

31


Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of January 1, 2009, the Company had approximately $890.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $1.29 billion available under its revolving credit facility (net of $130.0 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and $75.0 million which had been committed by a now bankrupt financial institution and is not available for borrowing). After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance at March 31, 2009 was approximately $428.6 million and the amount available on the Company’s revolving credit facility was $1.31 billion (net of $115.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and net of the $75.0 million discussed above). In 2008, the Company built a significant cash and cash equivalents balance as a direct result of its decision to pre-fund its 2008 and 2009 debt maturities with the closing of three secured mortgage loan pools totaling $1.6 billion. The decline in the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance since December 31, 2008 is a direct result of the application of the pre-funded cash on hand towards the Company’s debt tender and debt repurchase activities.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company generated proceeds from various transactions, which included the following:

 

   

Disposed of 13 properties and one condominium unit, receiving net proceeds of approximately $133.2 million;

   

Obtained $57.7 million of new mortgage loans primarily on development properties; and

   

Issued approximately 0.2 million Common Shares and received net proceeds of $2.9 million.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the above proceeds were primarily utilized to:

 

   

Invest $82.2 million primarily in development projects;

   

Repurchase 47,450 Common Shares, utilizing cash of $1.1 million (see Note 3);

   

Repurchase $307.8 million of fixed rate public notes; and

   

Repay $146.2 million of mortgage loans.

Depending on its analysis of market prices, economic conditions and other opportunities for the investment of available capital, the Company may repurchase its Common Shares pursuant to its existing share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Trustees. The Company repurchased $1.1 million (47,450 shares at an average price per share of $23.69) of its Common Shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had authorization to repurchase an additional $466.5 million of its shares. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

The Company’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedules as of March 31, 2009 are as follows:

 

32


Debt Summary as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Amounts (1)    % of Total    Weighted
Average
Rates (1)
   Weighted
Average
Maturities
(years)

Secured

     $ 4,941,277      49.0%      4.84%      8.3  

Unsecured

     5,141,358      51.0%      5.42%      5.5  
                     

Total

     $ 10,082,635      100.0%      5.14%      6.8  
                     

Fixed Rate Debt:

           

Secured – Conventional

     $ 3,681,350      36.5%      5.97%      7.2  

Unsecured – Public/Private

     4,429,508      43.9%      5.99%      5.7  

Unsecured – Tax Exempt

     75,790      0.8%      5.20%      20.2  
                     

Fixed Rate Debt

     8,186,648      81.2%      5.97%      6.5  
                     

Floating Rate Debt:

           

Secured – Conventional

     624,022      6.2%      2.11%      2.1  

Secured – Tax Exempt

     635,905      6.3%      0.79%      21.3  

Unsecured – Public/Private

     600,460      6.0%      1.49%      1.3  

Unsecured – Tax Exempt

     35,600      0.3%      0.46%      19.7  

Unsecured – Revolving Credit Facility

     -      -      -      2.8  
                     

Floating Rate Debt

     1,895,987      18.8%      1.43%      8.3  
                     

Total

     $     10,082,635      100.0%      5.14%      6.8  
                     

 

(1)

Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Note: The Company capitalized interest of approximately $10.6 million and $14.7 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Debt Maturity Schedule as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands)

 

    Year    

  Fixed
Rate (1)
  Floating
Rate (1)
  Total   % of Total   Weighted Average
Rates on Fixed
Rate Debt (1)
  Weighted Average
Rates on

Total Debt (1)

    2009

    $ 155,979       $ 463,187       $ 619,166     6.1%   7.53%   4.03%

    2010    (2)

    274,993       670,053       945,046     9.4%   7.23%   3.22%

    2011    (3)

    1,253,533       78,417       1,331,950     13.2%   5.56%   5.35%

    2012

    924,579       3,673       928,252     9.2%   6.01%   6.01%

    2013

    565,865       -       565,865     5.6%   5.93%   5.93%

    2014

    516,959       -       516,959     5.1%   5.28%   5.28%

    2015

    355,081       -       355,081     3.5%   6.41%   6.41%

    2016

    1,088,709       -       1,088,709     10.8%   5.32%   5.32%

    2017

    1,345,997       456       1,346,453     13.4%   5.87%   5.87%

    2018

    335,500       44,677       380,177     3.8%   5.96%   5.61%

    2019+

    1,369,453       635,524       2,004,977     19.9%   5.85%   4.91%
                             

    Total

    $     8,186,648       $     1,895,987       $     10,082,635     100.0%   5.83%   5.18%
                             

 

(1)

Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are as of March 31, 2009.

(2)

Includes the Company’s $500.0 million floating rate term loan facility, which matures on October 5, 2010, subject to two one-year extension options exercisable by the Company.

(3)

Includes $531.1 million face value of 3.85% convertible unsecured debt with a final maturity of 2026. The notes are callable by the Company on or after August 18, 2011. The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s unsecured debt as of March 31, 2009:

 

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Unsecured Debt Summary as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Coupon
Rate
   Due
Date
        Face
Amount
   Unamortized
Premium/
(Discount)
   Net
Balance

Fixed Rate Notes:

                 
   4.750%    06/15/09    (1)      $     122,239         $ (26)        $ 122,213   
   6.950%    03/02/11    (2)      114,806         1,914         116,720   
   6.625%    03/15/12         400,000         (868)        399,132   
   5.500%    10/01/12         350,000         (1,208)        348,792   
   5.200%    04/01/13         400,000         (473)        399,527   
   5.250%    09/15/14         500,000         (337)        499,663   
   6.584%    04/13/15         300,000         (672)        299,328   
   5.125%    03/15/16         500,000         (372)        499,628   
   5.375%    08/01/16         400,000         (1,360)        398,640   
   5.750%    06/15/17         650,000         (4,196)        645,804   
   7.125%    10/15/17         150,000         (554)        149,446   
   7.570%    08/15/26         140,000         -         140,000   
   3.850%    08/15/26    (3)      531,092         (20,477)        510,615   

Floating Rate Adjustments

         (1)      (100,000)        -         (100,000)  
                             
              4,458,137        (28,629)        4,429,508   
                             

Fixed Rate Tax Exempt Notes:

                 
   5.200%    06/15/29    (4)      75,790        -         75,790   
                             

Floating Rate Tax Exempt Notes:

                 
   7-Day SIFMA    12/15/28    (4)      35,600        -         35,600   
                             

Floating Rate Notes:

                 
      06/15/09    (1)      100,000        -         100,000   

FAS 133 Adjustments – net

         (1)      460        -         460   

Term Loan Facility

   LIBOR+0.50%    10/05/10    (4)(5)      500,000        -         500,000   
                             
              600,460        -         600,460   
                             

Revolving Credit Facility:

   LIBOR+0.50%    02/28/12    (6)      -         -         -   
                             

Total Unsecured Debt

              $ 5,169,987        $     (28,629)        $     5,141,358  
                             

Note: SIFMA stands for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and is the tax-exempt index equivalent of LIBOR.

 

  (1)

$100.0 million in fair value interest rate swaps converts a portion of the 4.750% notes due June 15, 2009 to a floating interest rate. On January 27, 2009, the Company repurchased $105.2 million of these notes at par pursuant to a cash tender offer announced on January 16, 2009. In conjunction with the tender offer, the Company terminated $50.0 million of the $150.0 million in fair value swaps outstanding at January 1, 2009 and received approximately $0.4 million.

  (2)

On January 27, 2009, the Company repurchased $185.2 million of these notes at par pursuant to a cash tender offer announced on January 16, 2009.

  (3)

Convertible notes mature on August 15, 2026. The notes are callable by the Company on or after August 18, 2011. The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company repurchased $17.5 million of these notes at a discount to par of approximately 11.6% and recognized a gain on early debt extinguishment of $2.0 million. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FSP APB 14-1, which requires companies to expense the implied option value inherent in convertible debt. In conjunction with this adoption, the Company recorded an adjustment of $17.3 million to the beginning balance of the discount on its convertible notes.

  (4)

Notes are private. All other unsecured debt is public.

  (5)

Represents the Company’s $500.0 million term loan facility, which matures on October 5, 2010, subject to two one-year extension options exercisable by the Company.

  (6)

As of March 31, 2009, there was no amount outstanding and approximately $1.31 billion available on the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.

As of April 30, 2009, an unlimited amount of debt securities remains available for issuance by the Operating Partnership under a registration statement that became automatically effective upon filing with the SEC in December 2008 (under SEC regulations enacted in 2005, the registration statement automatically expires on December 21, 2011

 

34


and does not contain a maximum issuance amount). As of April 30, 2009, an unlimited amount of equity securities remains available for issuance by the Company under a registration statement the SEC declared effective in December 2008 (under SEC regulations enacted in 2005, the registration statement automatically expires on December 15, 2011 and does not contain a maximum issuance amount).

The Company’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of March 31, 2009 is presented in the following table. The Company calculates the equity component of its market capitalization as the sum of (i) the total outstanding Common Shares and assumed conversion of all Units at the equivalent market value of the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) the “Common Share Equivalent” of all convertible preferred shares and preference units; and (iii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preferred shares outstanding.

Capital Structure as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands except for share/unit and per share amounts)

 

Secured Debt

        $  4,941,277     49.0%   

Unsecured Debt

        5,141,358     51.0%   
               

Total Debt

        10,082,635     100.0%   64.6% 

Common Shares (includes Restricted Shares)

      273,843,970     94.4%       

Units

    16,283,376     5.6%       
               

Total Shares and Units

    290,127,346     100.0%       

Common Share Equivalents (see below)

    405,555          
             

Total outstanding at quarter-end

    290,532,901          

Common Share Price at March 31, 2009

    $ 18.35          
             
        5,331,279     96.4%   

Perpetual Preferred Equity (see below)

        200,000     3.6%   
               

Total Equity

        5,531,279     100.0%    35.4% 

Total Market Capitalization

        $ 15,613,914       100.0% 

Convertible Preferred Equity as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands except for share/unit and per share/unit amounts)

 

Series

    Redemption  
Date
    Outstanding  
  Shares/Units  
    Liquidation  
Value
  Annual
  Dividend Per  
Share/Unit
  Annual
  Dividend  
Amount
    Weighted  
Average
Rate
      Conversion  
Ratio
  Common
Share
  Equivalents  

 Preferred Shares:

               

7.00% Series E

  11/1/98   328,466       $ 8,212       $ 1.75       $ 575       1.1128     365,517  

7.00% Series H

  6/30/98   22,459       561       1.75       39       1.4480     32,521  

 Junior Preference Units:

               

8.00% Series B

  7/29/09   7,367       184       2.00       15       1.020408     7,517  
                           

 Total Convertible Preferred Equity

    358,292       $ 8,957         $ 629     7.02 %     405,555  

Perpetual Preferred Equity as of March 31, 2009

(Amounts in thousands except for share and per share amounts)

 

Series

     Redemption  
Date
     Outstanding  
Shares
     Liquidation  
Value
   Annual
Dividend
  Per Share  
   Annual
  Dividend  
Amount
     Weighted  
Average
Rate

 Preferred Shares:

                 

8.29% Series K

   12/10/26    1,000,000        $ 50,000        $ 4.145        $ 4,145     

6.48% Series N

   6/19/08    600,000        150,000        16.20        9,720     
                           

 Total Perpetual Preferred Equity

      1,600,000        $ 200,000           $ 13,865      6.93% 

 

35


The Company generally expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and certain scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. Under normal operating conditions, the Company considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating requirements and payments of distributions. However, there may be times when the Company experiences shortfalls in its coverage of distributions, which may cause the Company to consider reducing its distributions and/or using the proceeds from property dispositions or additional financing transactions to make up the difference. Should these shortfalls occur for lengthy periods of time or be material in nature, the Company’s financial condition may be adversely affected and it may not be able to maintain its current distribution levels. The Company also expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as scheduled unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions, financing of construction and development activities and capital improvements through the issuance of unsecured notes and equity securities, including additional OP Units, and proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties as well as joint ventures. In addition, the Company has significant unencumbered properties available to secure additional mortgage borrowings in the event that the public capital markets are unavailable or the cost of alternative sources of capital is too high. The fair value of and cash flow from these unencumbered properties are in excess of the requirements the Company must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes and line of credit. Of the $18.7 billion in investment in real estate on the Company’s balance sheet at March 31, 2009, $11.1 billion or 59.6%, was unencumbered. However, there can be no assurances that these sources of capital will be available to the Company in the future.

As of April 30, 2009, the Operating Partnership’s senior debt credit ratings from Standard & Poors (“S&P”), Moody’s and Fitch are BBB+, Baa1 and A-, respectively. As of April 30, 2009, the Company’s preferred equity ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are BBB-, Baa2 and BBB+, respectively.

The Operating Partnership has a long-term revolving credit facility with available borrowings as of March 31, 2009 of $1.31 billion that matures in February 2012 (see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). This facility may, among other potential uses, be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short-term liquidity requirements. As of April 30, 2009, no amounts were outstanding under this facility.

See Note 16 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the events which occurred subsequent to March 31, 2009.

Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate

Our policy with respect to capital expenditures is generally to capitalize expenditures that improve the value of the property or extend the useful life of the component asset of the property. We track improvements to real estate in two major categories and several subcategories:

 

   

Replacements (inside the unit). These include:

   

flooring such as carpets, hardwood, vinyl, linoleum or tile;

   

appliances;

   

mechanical equipment such as individual furnace/air units, hot water heaters, etc;

   

furniture and fixtures such as kitchen/bath cabinets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, sinks, tubs, toilets, mirrors, countertops, etc; and

   

blinds/shades.

All replacements are depreciated over a five-year estimated useful life. We expense as incurred all make-ready maintenance and turnover costs such as cleaning, interior painting of individual units and the repair of any replacement item noted above.

 

   

Building improvements (outside the unit). These include:

   

roof replacement and major repairs;

   

paving or major resurfacing of parking lots, curbs and sidewalks;

   

amenities and common areas such as pools, exterior sports and playground equipment, lobbies, clubhouses, laundry rooms, alarm and security systems and offices;

   

major building mechanical equipment systems;

   

interior and exterior structural repair and exterior painting and siding;

   

major landscaping and grounds improvement; and

 

36


   

vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.

All building improvements are depreciated over a five to ten-year estimated useful life. We capitalize building improvements and upgrades only if the item: (i) exceeds $2,500 (selected projects must exceed $10,000); (ii) extends the useful life of the asset; and (iii) improves the value of the asset.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, our actual improvements to real estate totaled approximately $26.6 million. This includes the following (amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts):

Capitalized Improvements to Real Estate

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009

 

     Total
  Units (1)  
     Replacements      Avg.
  Per Unit  
   Building
  Improvements  
   Avg.
  Per Unit  
     Total      Avg.
  Per Unit  

Established Properties (2)

   112,050        $ 8,556        $ 76        $ 6,398        $ 57        $ 14,954        $ 133  

New Acquisition Properties (3)

   13,784        724        54        1,642        121        2,366        175  

Other (4)

   6,135        8,125           1,199           9,324     
                                  

Total

   131,969        $ 17,405           $ 9,239           $ 26,644     
                                  

 

(1)

Total units – Excludes 9,560 unconsolidated units and 4,703 military housing (fee managed) units, for which capitalized improvements to real estate are self-funded and do not consolidate into the Company’s results.

(2)

Established Properties – Wholly Owned Properties acquired prior to January 1, 2007.

(3)

New Acquisition Properties – Wholly Owned Properties acquired during 2007, 2008 and 2009. Per unit amounts are based on a weighted average of 13,524 units.

(4)

Other – Primarily includes properties either partially owned or sold during the period, commercial space and corporate housing. Also includes $7.4 million included in replacements spent on various assets related to major renovations and repositioning of these assets.

For 2009, the Company estimates an annual stabilized run rate of approximately $925 per unit of capital expenditures for its established properties. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Company’s property management offices and its corporate offices, were approximately $0.7 million. The Company expects to fund approximately $1.3 million in additions to non-real estate property for the remainder of 2009. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Improvements to real estate and additions to non-real estate property are generally funded from net cash provided by operating activities and from investment cash flow.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Company seeks to limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

The Company has a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors. When viewed in conjunction with the underlying and offsetting exposure that the derivatives are designed to hedge, the Company has not sustained a material loss from those instruments nor does it anticipate any material adverse effect on its net income or financial position in the future from the use of derivatives it currently has in place.

See Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments at March 31, 2009.

 

37


Other

Total distributions paid in April 2009 amounted to $142.6 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which included certain distributions declared during the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Noncontrolling Interests (including Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests) as of March 31, 2009 decreased by $110.3 million when compared to December 31, 2008 primarily as a result of the following:

 

   

The issuance of 155,189 LTIP Units with a contribution valuation of $0.1 million;

   

The conversion of 0.6 million OP Units into Common Shares valued at $9.1 million;

   

The allocation of income from operations to holders of OP Units in the amount of $4.7 million;

   

Distributions declared to Noncontrolling Interests, which amounted to $7.9 million (excluding Junior Preference Unit distributions);

   

The adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in the Operating Partnership of $2.8 million; and

   

The change in the market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership of $100.8 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Company has co-invested in various properties that are unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Management does not believe these investments have a materially different impact upon the Company’s liquidity, cash flows, capital resources, credit or market risk than its property management and ownership activities. During 2000 and 2001, the Company entered into institutional ventures with an unaffiliated partner. At the respective closing dates, the Company sold and/or contributed 45 properties containing 10,846 units to these ventures and retained a 25% ownership interest in the ventures. The Company’s joint venture partner contributed cash equal to 75% of the agreed-upon equity value of the properties comprising the ventures, which was then distributed to the Company. The Company’s strategy with respect to these ventures was to reduce its concentration of properties in a variety of markets. The Company sold three properties consisting of 670 units and one property consisting of 400 units during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In addition, the Company sold one property consisting of 216 units during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The Company and its joint venture partner currently intend to wind up these investments over the next few years by selling the related assets. The Company cannot estimate what, if any, profit it will receive from these dispositions or if the Company will in fact receive its equity back.

As of March 31, 2009, the Company has eight projects totaling 2,826 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2011. The development agreements currently in place are discussed in detail in Note 14 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

See also Notes 2 and 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s investments in partially owned entities.

The Company’s contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter have not changed materially from the amounts and disclosures included in its annual report on Form 10-K, other than as it relates to scheduled debt maturities. See the updated debt maturity schedule included in Liquidity and Capital Resources for further discussion.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different or different assumptions were made, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in different financial results or different presentation of our financial statements.

The Company has identified six significant accounting policies as critical accounting policies. These critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and those requiring significant judgments and estimates. With respect to these critical accounting policies, management believes that the application of judgments and estimates is consistently applied and produces financial information that fairly presents the results of operations for all periods presented. The six critical accounting policies are:

 

38


Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate and goodwill, for indicators of permanent impairment. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions and legal and environmental concerns, as well as the Company’s ability to hold and its intent with regard to each asset. Future events could occur which would cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted.

Depreciation of Investment in Real Estate

The Company depreciates the building component of its investment in real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building improvements over a 5-year to 10-year estimated useful life and both the furniture, fixtures and equipment and replacements components over a 5-year estimated useful life, all of which are judgmental determinations.

Cost Capitalization

See the Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate section for discussion of the policy with respect to capitalization vs. expensing of fixed asset/repair and maintenance costs. In addition, the Company capitalizes the payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on the supervision of major capital and/or renovation projects. These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as an increase to depreciable property.

The Company follows the guidance in SFAS No. 67, Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects, for all development projects and uses its professional judgment in determining whether such costs meet the criteria for capitalization or must be expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes interest, real estate taxes and insurance and payroll and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on development activities, with capitalization ceasing no later than 90 days following issuance of the certificate of occupancy. These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as construction-in-progress for each specific property. The Company expenses as incurred all payroll costs of on-site employees working directly at our properties, except as noted above on our development properties prior to certificate of occupancy issuance and on specific major renovations at selected properties when additional incremental employees are hired.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments

The Company follows the guidance under SFAS No. 157 when valuing its financial instruments. The valuation of financial instruments under SFAS No. 107 and SFAS No. 133, as amended, requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Company, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Company bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

Revenue Recognition

Rental income attributable to residential leases is recorded on a straight-line basis, which is not materially different than if it were recorded when due from residents and recognized monthly as it is earned. Leases entered into between a resident and a property for the rental of an apartment unit are generally year-to-year, renewable upon consent of both parties on an annual or monthly basis. Fee and asset management revenue and interest income are recorded on an accrual basis.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, effective January 1, 2006, which results in compensation expense being recorded based on the fair value of the share compensation granted.

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. This model is only one method of valuing options and the Company’s use of this model should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its accuracy. Because the Company’s share options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not

 

39


necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its share options and the actual value of the options may be significantly different.

Funds From Operations

For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) available to Common Shares and Units decreased by $2.1 million or 1.2%, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to FFO available to Common Shares and Units for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

Funds From Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2009    2008 (3)

Net income

   $ 85,421     $ 147,528 

Adjustments:

     

Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:

     

Preference Interests and Units

     (4)      (4)

Partially Owned Properties

     69       (268)

Depreciation

     150,045       141,195 

Depreciation – Non-real estate additions

     (1,898)      (2,051)

Depreciation – Partially Owned and Unconsolidated Properties

     183       1,034 

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities

     (2,765)     

Discontinued operations:

     

Depreciation

     443       6,385 

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations

     (61,871)      (122,517)

Net incremental (loss) gain on sales of condominium units

     (64)      366 
             

FFO (1) (2)

     169,559       171,668 

Preferred distributions

     (3,620)      (3,633)
             

FFO available to Common Shares and Units (1) (2)

   $ 165,939     $ 168,035 
             

 

(1)

The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) defines funds from operations (“FFO”) (April 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis. The April 2002 White Paper states that gain or loss on sales of property is excluded from FFO for previously depreciated operating properties only. Once the Company commences the conversion of units to condominiums, it simultaneously discontinues depreciation of such property. FFO available to Common Shares and Units is calculated on a basis consistent with net income available to Common Shares and reflects adjustments to net income for preferred distributions and premiums on redemption of preferred shares in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain restrictions, the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their OP Units for EQR Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

(2)

The Company believes that FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the operating performance of a real estate company, because they are recognized measures of performance by the real estate industry and by excluding gains or losses related to dispositions of depreciable property and excluding real estate depreciation (which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar condition based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates), FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units can help compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies. FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units do not represent net income, net income available to Common Shares or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units should not be exclusively considered as alternatives to net income, net income available to Common Shares or net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as measures of liquidity. The Company’s calculation of FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units may differ from other real estate companies due to, among other items, variations in cost capitalization policies for capital expenditures and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other real estate companies.

 

40


(3)

Net income, FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units have all been reduced by approximately $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 for the retrospective application of FSP APB 14-1 on convertible debt, which the Company adopted as required on January 1, 2009.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. See the Current Environment section of Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations relating to market risk and the current economic environment. See also Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:

Effective as of March 31, 2009, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting of the Company identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation referred to above that occurred during the first quarter of 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

41


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company does not believe that there have been any material developments in the legal proceedings that were discussed in Part I, Item 3 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) Unregistered Common Shares Issued in the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company issued 551,590 Common Shares in exchange for 551,590 OP Units held by various limited partners of the Operating Partnership. OP Units are generally exchangeable into Common Shares of EQR on a one-for-one basis or, at the option of the Operating Partnership, the cash equivalent thereof, at any time one year after the date of issuance. However, no aspect of an exchange requires a cash settlement by the Operating Partnership under any circumstances. Some of these shares were issued in reliance on exemptions from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as these were transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. In light of the manner of the sale and information obtained by the Company from the limited partners in connection with these transactions, the Company believes it may rely on this exemption.

(c) Common Shares Repurchased in the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009

The Company repurchased the following Common Shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2009:

 

Period

  Total Number
of Common
Shares
    Purchased (1)    
  Average
Price
Paid Per
    Share (1)    
  Total Number of
Common Shares
Purchased as Part of

Publicly Announced
    Plans or Programs (1)    
  Dollar Value of
Common Shares

that May Yet Be
    Purchased Under    
the Plans or
Programs (1)

January 2009

  -       $ -     -       $  467,660,443  

February 2009

  47,450       $ 23.69     47,450       $  466,536,298  

March 2009

  -       $ -     -       $  466,536,298  
                   

First Quarter 2009

  47,450       $   23.69     47,450    

 

  (1)

The Common Shares repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 represent Common Shares repurchased under the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program approved by its Board of Trustees. All of the shares repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were repurchased from employees at an average price of $23.69 per share (the average of the then current market prices) to cover the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of employees’ restricted shares. The Company has authorization to repurchase an additional $466.5 million of its shares as of March 31, 2009.

Item 6. Exhibits – See the Exhibit Index

 

42


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

Date: May 7, 2009

    By:  

/s/     Mark J. Parrell

     

    Mark J. Parrell

     

    Executive Vice President and

     

    Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 7, 2009

    By:  

/s/     Ian S. Kaufman

     

    Ian S. Kaufman

     

    First Vice President and

     

    Chief Accounting Officer

 

43


EXHIBIT INDEX

The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this report. References to exhibits or other filings under the caption “Location” indicate that the exhibit or other filing has been filed, that the indexed exhibit and the exhibit referred to are the same and that the exhibit referred to is incorporated by reference. The Commission file number for our Exchange Act filings referenced below is 1-12252.

 

Exhibit

  

Description

  

Location

10.1*

   Form of First Amendment to Amended and Restated Change in Control/Severance Agreement with each executive officer.    Attached herein.

10.2

   Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership for ERP Operating Limited Partnership dated as of March 12, 2009.    Included as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated March 12, 2009, filed on March 18, 2009.

10.3*

   Change in Control Agreement dated as of March 13, 2009 by and between Equity Residential and Mark J. Parrell, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.    Included as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated March 12, 2009, filed on March 18, 2009.

31.1

   Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer.    Attached herein.

31.2

   Certification of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer.    Attached herein.

32.1

   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.    Attached herein.

32.2

   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company.    Attached herein.

* Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements filed as exhibits to this report are identified by an asterisk.